North Auckland Street Skills - NASS

[GravelRashKid]

Awesome session guys, thanks heaps! Again! Again!
That really highlighted some areas for me that need attention.
It's great to watch the rapid improvement in a lot of the fresh riders too.

[Timmeh:P]

Was a massive turn out! Far out... was a little overwhelmed by the numbers.

A few observations from last night.

When performing the offset cone weave, make sure you look up and do not focus on the cone you are about to corner around. Some of you were looking down at the cone while making the turn, which will throw you off balance and will mean you are then not in the right position for the next cone. Make sure you look up, and when you know you can make the turn, focus on the next cone in the sequence. Not at the cone right in front of you.

Straight weave, focus on the furthest cone, not the cones in front of you, trust your peripheral vision.

U turn... some of you were cutting the corner to make it easier, rather than riding around the corner (hence why I put myself in the way). When performing a tight U turn like that, make sure you start the turn by performing a small dip. Some of you were just taking the turn (which is fine at slower speeds), but if you want to perform the task quicker, add a little dip before you make the turn. See image:



Lastly if you want to learn more slow speed techniques check out this guy.

He may talk too much, and have one of those really irritating american ascents, but his ride like a pro dvd is very useful and has many exercises to practice. If you can get your hands on it. I have the DVD floating around somewhere, will see if I can find it.

[GravelRashKid]

Lastly if you want to learn more slow speed techniques check out this guy.

Didn't know this one (although I bet most other at NASS did!): At low speeds, don't lean with the bike, in fact lean your body in the opposite direction to the bike.

[Timmeh:P]

Didn't know this one (although I bet most other at NASS did!): At low speeds, don't lean with the bike, in fact lean your body in the opposite direction to the bike.

I would say that depends on the size and type of bike and the speed of the manoeuvre. There is some contradiction around this depending on the teacher. Keith Code (Twist of the Wrist) would say that leaning with the bike is better. I am in two minds. I find one way works better for me over the other. I lean opposite to the bike will I set up my dip into the corner, then set my body up to lean with it while making the turn.

Edit: This is regarding slow speed manoeuvres... not high speed turns!

[The Reibz]

At low speeds, don't lean with the bike, in fact lean your body in the opposite direction to the bike.

I have to maneuver my busa this way unless its under power. Quite difficult to use power in turns that tight when you have 160 odd horsepower to play with in a touchy first gear. Was doing most of the shit we did last night in 2nd

[grover-nz]

I've got to move out west so I can practice this stuff.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

[p.dath]

Didn't know this one (although I bet most other at NASS did!): At low speeds, don't lean with the bike, in fact lean your body in the opposite direction to the bike.

When you are travelling really slow around a corner you will need to lean the opposite way to turn tightly. You need to lean the bike over to get onto its outside tyre edge to reduce your turning diameter. However at this point there is not enough speed to push the bike up, so you have to lean the opposite way with your body to balance out the bikes weight.

[angle]

Very good point about riding on the toes too. I've recently changed from having the arch of my foot on the pegs, to the ball of the foot on the pegs.
My reason for this change in riding position, was due to getting my foot caught under the brake/gear lever then jammed between the road and the bike on corners. Just a little too exciting for my liking.
The change has allowed me to improve my riding in a number of ways, however this has introduced a weight transfer and subsequent instability every time I brake or change gear. Plus of course the delay you mentioned in getting to the rear brake pedal.
One option I haven't explored is adjusting both the brake and gear levers, so my feet can rest comfortably above the levers without activating them. Perhaps if I had a cruiser - but then I wouldn't be going around corners anyway.

Boots have toe sliders for a reason, you should embrace the excitement and live the moment to the full I keep my feet on the pegs right by the heel but before I corner, to the right for example, and I think I might lean in that corner I put my right foot's toe onto the peg. Having the left foot firmly planted on the left peg on the arch of my foot (as you put it) attaches me to the bike more securely than having the left foot on it's toe as well.

[Timmeh:P]

Boots have toe sliders for a reason, you should embrace the excitement and live the moment to the full

The only time I ever use my toe sliders is when I am dragging my pegs.

If you are dragging toe sliders on the road without getting your knee down, peg down and going like the clappers, you probably should change your foot position.

[angle]

The only time I ever use my toe sliders is when I am dragging my pegs.

This depends on the bike an it's peg positions. Plus, there is nothing wrong with dragging pegs... until you snap one that is... quite easily done on the older Katanas

If you are dragging toe sliders on the road without getting your knee down, peg down and going like the clappers, you probably should change your foot position.

GravelRashKid drags his pegs like crazy

[GravelRashKid]

until you snap one that is... quite easily done on the older Katanas

Not so keen on snapping a peg on the old girl.

GravelRashKid drags his pegs like crazy

Doesn't scare me quite so much any more. Which is a very good thing for my kidneys, given most scrapes are while two-up...

[Juniper]

Not so keen on snapping a peg on the old girl.



Doesn't scare me quite so much any more. Which is a very good thing for my kidneys, given most scrapes are while two-up...

Are you calling me fat!?!?!!

[GravelRashKid]

Are you calling me fat!?!?!!

Hell no, I value my balls too.

Due to your pillionability (cool new word) and maybe the suspension setup, Tigger sits a lot nicer on the road two-up.

[angle]

Are you calling me fat!?!?!!

I think he implied that you can be quite violent.

[Juniper]

I think he implied that you can be quite violent.

Me? Never!